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George Costanza, “Seinfeld” Some of you will immediately remember this line and the TV show it came from. For those of you who don’t, George Costanza was a character in the show “Seinfeld.” He was neurotic and serially challenged in …Continue reading →

How brainstorming is an effective tool in problem solving. This was a real exchange between a husband and wife who were mediating their divorce. They were struggling to figure out a parenting plan. Each had differing visions about how far …Continue reading →

(How to avoid conflict through self-awareness) We all have automatic behaviors…those tasks we perform unconsciously with very little thought. This morning proves it. I’m sure that most of you reading this article go through the exact same routine every morning …Continue reading →

Ritualizing Communication to Resolve Conflict An old mediation client called me the other day. He wanted to share a breakthrough in communication that he had with his ex-wife. He said that although they had resolved their divorce in my process …Continue reading →

… in conflict, we don’t always know how to use them For over 28 years, I’ve asked conflicted parents the following question: “On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best, what …Continue reading →

One of the most valuable benefits to mediating a conflict is that the parties have the opportunity to not only resolve their dispute, but also to both preserve and enhance their relationship. Conflict, handled poorly, can destroy future collaboration. Handled …Continue reading →

And How Mediation Can Help For many years now, I have lectured at the David B. Faulk College of Sport and Human Dynamics at Syracuse University regarding the practice of mediation and mediation ethics. To get my students’ attention, I …Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, my lovely Sara and I were hiking on a very remote trail in the Adirondacks. Several miles from a trailhead, at the intersection of two trails, we stopped by a stream to admire the view and …Continue reading →